We know that not everyone needs advice about how to ace a job interview or decide whether to get a degree or a certification. The unemployment percentage increased again in the month of October, so we’ve found a great article from CNN Money that highlights a few examples of companies that have come up with creative ways to help out unemployed residents in their communities.

Free Suit Cleaning
Six months ago Mike Erstad, the owner of National Drycleaners in Seattle, Washington, started offering unemployed people free cleaning services for those that have an upcoming job interview. Although only a dozen or so people have taken Erstad up on the offer, he says the promotion is one that “builds on itself.”

Erstad sees it as one of the myriad ways a business can support a neighborhood, along with sponsoring Little League teams and other community events. “I could never afford television time, but we got our name out there at no cost,” Erstad says. “When you do good, good things happen.”

Free Night’s Stay
Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, Vermont offers what they call a “Pink Slip Giveaway Getaway.” Owners Leslie and Brian Mulcahy offer those that have been unemployed for six months or more a chance to win a drawing for a free two night stay at their inn.

“In our 16 years of innkeeping, this has been the most satisfying effort we have ever done,” Leslie Mulcahy says. “We know first hand about the stress and anxiety that unemployment brings.”

Free Shoes
Heels.com set up tables at job centers and gave away hundreds of professional shoes to job-seeking women. Local television affiliates in Atlanta, Greensboro and Charlotte covered the giveaway.

“Coverage aside, the most rewarding part was seeing the looks on these women’s faces,” Acosta says. “It was also a breath of fresh air to be a part of positive news at a time when so many negative stories were leading the news.”

You can read the rest of the story at CNN Money. You can also find out more about CMI Interactive’s professional business tools for self-employed workers.